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Slow Moving Storms Create Flash Floods In Parts Of Montgomery County

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CHELTENHAM Twp., Pa., (CBS) – Flash floods in parts of our area washed out some roads and trapped some drivers in the fast rising water.

From Abington to Plymouth Meeting and Elkins Park, many roads turned into rivers in Montgomery County shortly before 5 p.m. Monday.

Lisa Oswald of Elkins Park recalled, “In the course of about 10 minutes, it went from oh we have some water to oh my God, there’s water everywhere. Truly the definition of a flash flood, truly.”

Helena Urban also of Elkins Park said, “When we were going to the library, it was just drizzling. Then it just started pouring.”

Helena’s father, Chris, added, “It was a tremendous downpour so we decided to camp out in the library and read some books.”

Authorities confirm several roads in Ambler, Norristown and Jenkintown had to be closed due to flooding.

At around 4:40 p.m., officials say they responded to two water rescues involving two occupied vehicles in Norristown. One vehicle was stuck in 6 to 12 inches of water at the intersection of Route 202 and Markley Street. Three people were rescued from that vehicle unharmed. Police say the second vehicle was also trapped in 6 to 12 inches of water at East Lafayette and Walnut Streets. One person was rescued in that incident unharmed.

Meanwhile back in Elkins Park, Michael Oswald noted, “Usually it takes a hurricane to come here and fill my patio and it usually backs up into our basement but my basement is dry so we can live with the sunken patio.”

Monday night, the Oswalds’ patio remained under water and the flooding out front, they say, was the worst they’ve seen in some 17 years but they took it all in stride.